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Reactions As Trump Gets Indicted By A Grand Jury

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Reactions continue to follow news of the indictment of former U.S President, Donald Trump by a grand jury in Manhattan from all sides.

 

In a statement, Mr. Trump lashed out at the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, a Democrat, and portrayed the case as the continuation of a politically motivated witch hunt against him.

 

“This is political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history,” Mr. Trump said in the statement, calling Mr. Bragg “a disgrace” and casting himself as “a completely innocent person.”

 

Mr. Trump, who has consistently denied all wrongdoing, has already called on his followers to protest his arrest, in language reminiscent of his social media posts in the weeks before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by his supporters. He has also denied any affair with the porn star, Stormy Daniels, who had been looking to sell her story of a tryst with Mr. Trump during the 2016 campaign.

 

Online conversations about the indictment on Thursday seemed to reflect the absence of clear direction. QAnon accounts on Telegram began posting slogans associated with the conspiracy theory, such as “trusting the plan” and “the storm is upon us,” in support of Mr. Trump. Dan Bongino, a radio host who has echoed Mr. Trump’s false claims of voter fraud, wrote on Truth Social that “the police state is here.” Some users claimed that the indictment would only strengthen support for Mr. Trump and help him win re-election in 2024.

 

Mike Pence, who was Donald J. Trump’s vice president, defended his former running mate on Thursday night, describing Mr. Trump’s indictment in a hush-money case as “an outrage.”

 

“The unprecedented indictment of a former president of the United States on a campaign finance issue is an outrage,” Mr. Pence told the host Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

 

“President Trump did not commit any crime,” Mr. Trump’s lawyers, Susan R. Necheles and Joseph Tacopina, said in a statement. “We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.”

 

Chris Kise, a lawyer who represents Trump in a civil case brought by New York State, called the indictment “the lowest point in history for our criminal justice system. What was once the most respected and revered district attorney’s office in the nation has been fully bastardized by an opportunistic politician seeking, like many others, to cash in on the Trump brand. The complete lack of legal basis, coupled with the politically targeted nature of the prosecution, should strike fear into every citizen in this country irrespective of their views of President Trump.”

 

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who is expected to run but has not yet announced his campaign, called the indictment of Mr. Trump “un-American.” Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the lesser-known Republican contenders, also weighed in, condemning the indictment in a statement as undermining “public trust in our electoral system and our justice system” and urging other candidates to join him in denouncing it.

 

“This indictment is a long-overdue step in holding Trump accountable for his flagrant disregard for our laws and democracy,” said Jessica Velasquez, chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. “The legal system is finally holding him accountable for past transgressions, but it’s up to the voters to hold him accountable in his current run for president.”

 

“Trump is being held accountable for breaking the law,” added Jane Kleeb, her counterpart in Nebraska.

 

“In America we believe in the rule of law,” Representative Ruben Gallego, who is running for the Senate in Arizona, said in a statement. “We should wait to hear from the grand jury before jumping to conclusions.”

 

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin of Birmingham, stressed that “grand juries are a serious matter.”

 

“Since 2016, American politics have been a mess, an embarrassing mess,” he said in an interview, saying that Mr. Trump had done things “where many just thought he was above the law. I want to be totally clear when I say this: Nobody’s above the law.”

 

In a statement, the Democratic National Committee made only a passing reference to the development before shifting to lash Republicans over more traditional political fare concerning abortion rights and the social safety net, as well as Republican efforts to undermine “free and fair elections.”

 

“No matter what happens in Trump’s upcoming legal proceedings, it’s obvious the Republican Party remains firmly in the hold of Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans,” said Ammar Moussa, a representative for the D.N.C. “We will continue to hold Trump and all Republican candidates accountable for the extreme MAGA agenda.”

 

Others, like Representative Adam B. Schiff, didn’t hold back. Mr. Schiff, who is running for the Senate in California and who led the first impeachment trial of Mr. Trump, is already fund-raising off the development.

 

“Donald Trump was just indicted,” the appeal said. “Adam has always championed progressive values and led the fight to protect our democracy. Now, taking his fight to Trump’s biggest defenders in the Senate is more important than ever.”

 

The National Republican Congressional Committee said that “the Deep State thinks this will destroy our movement and keep you quiet,” and invited supporters to “prove them wrong.”

 

An early evening email from the Defeat Republicans PAC reminded recipients that the indictment did not prevent Mr. Trump from being elected president in 2024, and that Mr. Trump still had the support of a substantial slice of the Republican base. The Fight for Progress PAC put things in more dire terms: “We need to do everything we can to STOP Trump and his enablers in Congress from destroying our democracy.”

 

On Steve Bannon’s War Room online broadcast, an influential program among Trump supporters, the former Trump administration official Sebastian Gorka called for supporters to “peacefully protest” the indictment. “We are going to see who are the politicians, who are the grifters, and who are the America First patriots,” he said. “This is a time of sorting.”

 

At 9 p.m., about 20 Trump supporters gathered just outside Mar-A-Lago in Florida in a show of solidarity. When asked why she made the trek to Palm Beach, Loxahatchee resident Georgia McGeerey said she had come to “fight for America.”

 

Lake Worth resident Nancy Sparks, 83, said the indictment was set off by Trump’s presidential run. “They said they would get him and they’re trying. It’s going to backfire and the Democrats are going to wish they didn’t mess with him,” she said.

 

The scattered response reflects the shift in Mr. Trump’s power since a large group of his supporters stormed the Capitol after he lost the 2020 election. In the years since, Mr. Trump’s political movement experienced multiple electoral defeats. Some supporters were jailed after the attack on the Capitol. The social media landscape shifted, and Mr. Trump’s digital reach remains limited by an obligation that he first post on Truth Social, the social network he started last year that has far fewer users than Twitter and Facebook.

International News

JUST IN: Equatorial Guinea Blocks WhatsApp Multimedia Amid Engonga Sex Scandal

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The government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed new restrictions on WhatsApp, limiting citizens’ ability to download and share multimedia files through mobile data.

This policy follows recent directives for telecommunications operators to control access to “inappropriate content.”

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The measure, however, has led to public frustration, with citizens now relying solely on WiFi for sharing photos, videos, and audio files.

The restrictions come in the wake of a high-profile scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).

Engonga, 54, is currently under investigation for fraud. During an unexpected search of his home and office, ANIF officials reportedly discovered a collection of more than 400 explicit videos involving Engonga and the wives of various prominent figures.

Among those reportedly involved are relatives of senior officials, including the wife of the Director General of Police, multiple government ministers’ spouses, and even family members of the President of Equatorial Guinea.

The leaked videos have caused a media uproar, with calls for transparency from the government.

Citizens are questioning whether the restrictions on WhatsApp multimedia sharing are part of an effort to prevent the spread of sensitive content related to the scandal.

So far, officials have not commented on the duration of these restrictions or whether they are linked to the ongoing investigation.

The local news platform Ahora EG has reported widespread frustration over the restrictions, quoting anonymous sources expressing concern about the impact on essential communication.

“Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few?” one source asked. “This measure interferes with work and educational activities for thousands who rely on WhatsApp, and it feels more like a move to control than to facilitate communication.”

Critics have also questioned the transparency of the new restriction, with some speculating it may be linked to Vice President Teddy Nguema’s recent announcement of a plan to install surveillance cameras in state offices.

This initiative, he said, is part of a broader government crackdown to reinforce public service laws and combat misconduct among officials.

As frustrations mount, Equatorial Guinea’s citizens are left awaiting clarity on the government’s intentions behind these measures.

With no official statements on how long the restrictions will remain in place, many continue to speculate whether these changes will be temporary or signal a new era of state control over digital communication.

 

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U.S. Election: Historic Decision Looms As Kamala Harris, Trump Enter Dead-Heat Contest

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On a high-stakes Tuesday, American voters are heading to the polls in an election that will either catapult Kamala Harris into history as the first woman president or grant Donald Trump a historic return to the White House.

After months of intense campaigning and unexpected developments, Democratic Vice President Harris, 60, and former Republican President Trump, 78, remain locked in one of the closest and most turbulent races of modern times.

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As polling stations open nationwide, both candidates are counting on a strong turnout in key swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

With early voting already at record numbers, tens of millions more are expected to cast their ballots throughout the day, adding to the over 82 million who voted early.

Campaign Finale: Fierce Push for Every Vote

Both campaigns spent Monday frantically rallying supporters. In Pennsylvania, Harris stood on the iconic “Rocky” steps in Philadelphia, energized by celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

“Momentum is on our side,” she said, calling the race potentially “one of the closest in history” and urging supporters to get to the polls.

Meanwhile, Trump held his closing rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Emphasizing his populist message, he depicted a nation under siege from crime and economic turmoil, promising that his leadership could restore America’s greatness.

“With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America — indeed, the world — to new heights of glory,” he declared.

An Election of Unprecedented Drama

This election has been marked by surprising developments that left voters and analysts reeling.

Harris took over the Democratic nomination in July following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, a dramatic shift that reshaped the race.

Trump’s campaign faced its own challenges, including surviving two assassination attempts and pushing forward even after a criminal conviction.

Despite these extraordinary events, polls show the race remains deadlocked.

Observers are bracing for potential delays in determining a winner, with the tight race suggesting that final results could take days.

In Washington, security is heightened with barriers around the White House and storefronts boarded up, fearing possible unrest.

Trump’s ongoing claims about election integrity — similar to those he made in 2020 — have already raised concerns about the potential for dispute if he loses.

Global Impact: Allies, Rivals Watch Anxiously

The international community is closely watching the U.S. election, as the outcome could reshape key policies.

A Harris administration would likely pursue climate action, support for NATO, and continued aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Trump’s “America First” approach, however, signals a return to isolationist policies that unsettle allies while promising sweeping trade tariffs that concern trading partners.

The election’s significance extends beyond politics, as Harris would make history as the first Black woman and South Asian president in the United States, breaking another barrier after her 2020 election as vice president.

Trump, if successful, would make his own history, becoming only the second president after Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms and the oldest president to assume office.

Divided Nation Faces Uncertain Path Forward

Harris’s campaign has focused on reproductive rights and healthcare, aiming to galvanize women and young voters.

Though she has condemned Trump’s “dark rhetoric,” she ended her campaign with an optimistic message, calling for unity and avoiding further mention of her rival.

Trump, meanwhile, has leaned into his populist appeal, casting himself as the country’s last line of defense against rising crime and immigration issues.

In his final speeches, he warned of election fraud — claims widely debunked by experts — and hinted that he might not concede if he loses, saying he should “never have left” the White House in 2021.

As polls close later tonight, Americans and the world wait anxiously for what could be a turning point in U.S. history. Regardless of the result, today’s vote promises to reshape the nation’s future and its role on the global stage for years to come.

 

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US Diplomats In Israel For High-Stake-Talks On Lebanon Truce

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Senior U.S. officials are set to meet their Israeli counterparts on Thursday to negotiate a potential agreement aimed at stabilizing Israel’s northern border and reducing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This high-stakes visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals as Israeli strikes persist.

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Just days before the U.S. presidential election, American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk are expected to arrive in Israel.

Their mission focuses on securing a framework that could see Hezbollah withdraw approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) north, beyond the Litani River.

In exchange, Israeli forces would pull back from Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, to manage border security.

Under this arrangement, Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming, while Israel would retain its right to self-defense under international law, according to Israeli media reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire could be reached “in the coming hours or days.”

Newly appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has indicated that the group would consider a truce under certain conditions, saying Hezbollah could sustain its resistance but remains open to negotiation.

Qassem’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.

In parallel, U.S. and Qatari mediators are attempting to negotiate a brief humanitarian pause in Gaza, where Israel’s campaign against Hamas is ongoing.

However, on Thursday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated the group’s stance against a temporary ceasefire, stating, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on.

Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

This proposed pause would have allowed essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and opened up negotiations for a longer-term resolution, but Hamas’s rejection of the offer dims prospects for an immediate breakthrough.

As a result, attention remains firmly fixed on Lebanon, where efforts for a ceasefire along Israel’s northern front are likely to take precedence.

Last week, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi spoke to the growing potential for resolution in Lebanon, saying, “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion.”

Israel’s military has since intensified its strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon, where it issued evacuation orders in areas such as the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, warning of imminent action following previous strikes.

 

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